“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd” – Luke 19:1-3
Since the year 2019, I have had an incredibly rare opportunity to carefully evaluate my Christian life. These moments of reflection were triggered when I was posted to work at our Nigeria office. The main goal of these reflections, while I was alone for a few months, was to determine the veracity of the Christianity I had been professing since 1998. In order to take a step back, think, and learn, I stepped out of active ministry. Being a minister with a busy schedule and taking part in church life here and there can make it hard to examine oneself objectively. During these times and recalling the past, I have questioned my motives, actions, and inactions severally. I remember crying out to God and literally crying for almost a week in 2022, asking Him to show me mercy.
It is clear from a cursory examination of the Christian landscape in Ghana how many Christian beliefs and practices are not wholly sincere. Despite our claims of dominance, as evidenced by the most recent census, we have no godly works to back our numbers. We employ religious jargon in our conversations; we sound very Christian. The apparent biblical inscriptions on our vehicles are one of the notable things you see in Ghana on our roads. Permit me to say that our cars in Ghana have undergone the same “baptism and born again” process as we have. We are a religious people, but the question is whether our professed conversion and vocation are genuine or not.
What does it mean for Christ to be in you?
In John 3, we are introduced to a revered teacher of the law by the name of Nicodemus, who came to Jesus one fine evening in the waning hours of the day. This Pharisee affirmed that God was with Jesus because of the overt miracles that Jesus performed. Knowing Nicodemus’ true need, Jesus refused to follow him down that path. Instead, He addresses him in the face with a statement that sums up what it means to be a Christian: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. “That evening’s conversation produced the foundation for Christian formation. Jesus emphasized that it is through the workings of the Holy Spirit that one experiences the new birth.
I’ll make an effort to clarify what it means to be born again, simply and with reference to the Bible. It is important for us to understand that only God’s omnipotent act can bring about salvation or a person’s new birth. In other words, it is initiated by God, sustained, and perfectly completed by Him. According to Scripture, the person who receives salvation was chosen before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). I wonder how one played a part in his/her salvation way before the world’s foundation was laid. In going through the born again process, the first is the choice (election) by God (The Father, The Son and Holy Spirit), regeneration, and then expressed confession in repentance and faith in Christ Jesus as Lord. One chosen by God through His grace experiences a change of heart through the work of the Holy Spirit’s conviction in regeneration, which is the new birth itself. Your heart is changed, and you become a new creature; the old is completely done away with, and one becomes totally new in heart. Literally, what this means is that, Christ Jesus makes His abode in you. You become the habitation of God, you literally carry God around wherever you find yourself. In fact, if regeneration has not yet occurred, one can sincerely follow the other steps (confession and faith in Christ Jesus) and still be lost – I don’t think altar calls convert people to Christianity. My main concern has been the fact that many people profess to have had a “born-again” experience, or to have the whole of Christ Jesus residing within them, but their actions are completely at odds with that confession. I find it incomprehensible to have Christ live in us and yet live consistently in unrepentant sin.
The Example of Zacchaeus.
In our focus scripture, we are introduced to a man named Zacchaeus. The Bible says he was a chief tax collector and wealthy. Tax collectors are described in biblical history as sinners. You’ll find it fascinating to learn that Zacchaeus’ name meant “pure” or “righteous.” He lived in direct opposition to what his name implied. I pause here to say that many in church or who identify with Christianity are just like Zacchaeus; they contradict the very essence of their Christian identity. Their claim to have a Christian identity is untrue.
The story’s main point is that Jesus sees him perched on a sycamore tree and tells him to descend because “I must stay at your house today,” Jesus said. Without a doubt, Zacchaeus’ intense desire to see Jesus was a means by which the Holy Spirit was transforming him into a new person. When he agreed to Jesus’ request to stay in his home, it was evident that He had actually experienced the Holy Spirit’s rebirth at that precise moment. In other words Christ Jesus made him His habitation.
While fellowshipping over bread and wine, we note how Zacchaeus took a stand and made this announcement: “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” While others were criticizing him for being such a terrible sinner, he took a stand and made a choice that established his new identity in Christ Jesus. He didn’t care what people thought; all he needed to do was demonstrate his newly found faith in the Lord.
Beloved in the Lord, the life of Zacchaeus confirms one who experienced the new birth and instantly produced fruits consistent with his new identity. Zacchaeus was a man of strong convictions who insisted that he uphold the principles of his new identity despite what others may think. We have so many who profess Christianity but have no fruit to show after so many years of claiming the Christian identity. I believe it is time for us to examine ourselves to confirm whether we are in the faith or not. Those who, by their fruits, can clearly provethat they have not experienced regeneration can further seek God’s mercy.
There is an urgent need for us to examine the Christianity we profess in this country; this is an individual exercise. The one who has genuinely experienced the new birth can no longer live in unrepentant sins; the one who has genuinely experienced the new birth will certainly have some fruits to show for that claim. Which category do you fall into?
What happens to those who may say they were not selected before the foundation of the earth?
You sent me to my closet on my knees, pleading for mercy and asking the Lord to lead me away from shallow expressions of faith and into deeper waters where authentic Christianity dwells. It can be lonely and difficult to navigate at times, but resting on His able hands, I know His grace will make me stand as a true witness of Him, bearing fruit that wells onto eternal life.